Gift wrap organizer

ABSTRACT

A gift wrapping storage organizer for storing wrapping paper and gift wrapping accessories is provided. The gift wrapping storage organizer includes a transparent container that has a front side, a back side, first and second sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and an open top. The sides and bottom define an interior of the container in which vertical dowels extend from the bottom of the container to vertically support and display rolls of wrapping paper. Cutouts are provided in the sides to facilitate carrying of the container. A receptacle is fixedly disposed inside the container to hold sheets of wrapping paper. A box for holding accessories such as bows, tape, ribbon, writing instruments is removably disposed in the upper interior of the container and rests supports attached to the sides of the container. A removable lid may be provided for the box or for the container.

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority from Provisional Patent Application No. 60/178,114 filed Jan. 28, 2000, entitled “Gift Wrap Organizer”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a gift wrap organizer. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a gift wrap organizer for storing tools of gift wrapping paper, tissue, flat wrapping paper, bows, accessories, and other gift wrap related articles.

[0003] Organizing gift wrap materials such as rolls of gift wrap paper, tissue, flat gift wrap paper, and gift wrap accessories so that they may be both stored and conveniently used is a vexing problem to millions of consumers. A common solution to this problem is for a consumer to throw all the wrapping supplies in a box. However, when it is time to use the supplies, it is commonly found that the supplies are jumbled and disorganized, and have suffered damage.

[0004] The use of gift wrap organizers is known in the prior art. Gift wrap organizers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the prior art that have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. Known prior attempts at solving the consumer's dilemma include U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,482,714; 3,321,259; 4,186,833; 6,123,197; U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 376,940; 361,225; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 341,776.

[0005] While these devices may fulfill their respective particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new gift wrapping storage container that fully solve the problems surrounding storage of wrapping supplies. The inventive device of the present invention includes a container that has a front side, a back side, first and second sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and an open top. The container may be made at least partially of a transparent material to provide viewing of its contents without opening it. The sides and bottom define an interior of the container in which vertical dowels extend from the bottom of the container to vertically support and display rolls of wrapping paper. Cutouts are provided in the sides to facilitate carrying of the container. A receptacle may be fixedly disposed inside the container to hold sheets of wrapping paper. A box for holding accessories such as bows, tape, ribbon, writing instruments may be removably disposed in the upper interior of the container and rests on support ribs that are securely connected to the sides of the container. A removable lid is provided for the box.

[0006] In these respects, the gift wrapping storage containers of the present invention provide an apparatus particularly suited for storing wrapping paper and gift wrapping accessories, while allowing a user to see at a glance the type and location of the contents of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Objectives of the present invention include providing a storage container that includes many of the advantages of the prior art, but includes new and nonobvious advantages, including ease of carrying of the container from location to location, and a readily observable interior so the user can tell at a glance the type and location of the contents of the container.

[0008] These and other objects are met by providing a gift wrapping storage organizer for storing wrapping paper and gift wrapping accessories. The gift wrapping storage organizer includes a transparent container that has a front side, a back side, first and second sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and an open top. The sides and bottom define an interior of the container in which vertical dowels extend from the bottom of the container to vertically support and display rolls of wrapping paper. Hand cutouts may be provided in the sides to facilitate carrying of the container. A receptacle may be fixedly disposed inside the container to hold sheets of wrapping paper. A box for holding accessories such as bows, tape, ribbon, and writing instruments may be removably disposed in the upper interior of the container and rests on the dowels that extend upward from the bottom of the container. A removable lid may be provided for the box, or simply for the container.

[0009] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of a gift wrap organizer configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of a gift wrap organizer of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a box and lid utilized with the embodiment of a gift wrap organizer of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

[0013]FIG. 4 is perspective view of a second embodiment of a gift wrap organizer of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the present invention may best be understood with reference to the following figures.

[0015]FIGS. 1 and 2 depict an embodiment of a gift wrap organizer 10 configured in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The gift wrap organizer 10 is mounted on a base 12 so that the bottom 14 of the gift wrap organizer is displaced by a gap from the surface upon which it is set. The bottom 14 includes sockets 18 for supporting a plurality of dowels 20, which extend upwardly into the interior of the organizer 10. In the illustrated embodiment, eight dowels are shown in two rows having four dowels each; however, the number of dowels may be varied in accordance with the desired size and capacity of the organizer. Preferably the dowels have a standard diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of a standard roll of wrapping paper, but the diameter can be less than this. Also, the length of the dowel, although illustrated as a substantial percentage of the length of a roll of wrapping paper, can be more or less than this, the only requirement is that the dowel be of sufficient length to support the roll of wrapping paper in a substantially vertical position. If the organizer is to be used in a horizontal orientation, then the dowels should be of sufficient length to support the roll of wrapping paper in a substantially horizontal position.

[0016] Supported on the base 12 is a container having side walls 30, 32 as well as front and back walls 34, 36 that cooperate to define a rectangular space 40 into which the dowels 20 extend. The dowels 20 are adapted to support rolls of wrapping paper, indicated by dashed lines 42. The organizer has an open top and a pair of horizontal support rails 48, 50 spaced from the open top and attached to the side walls 30, 32. Adjacent the open top are cutouts 52, 54 and side walls 30, 32 that give open access to a space near the top of the container, between the side rails 48, 50 and the open top.

[0017] In order to facilitate lifting of the entire gift wrap organizer 10, a pair of slots 70, 72 are provided in the side walls 30, 32 so that the organizer can be conveniently carried from one place to another.

[0018] Seated within the open top of the container 10 is a rectangular box 60, which is also shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. The rectangular box 60 has a bottom 62 that rests on the side support rails 48, 50 of the organizer 10 to enclose the space for holding the wrapping paper 42. The box 60 has a removable lid 66 and two side panels 68, 70, the side panels having cutouts 72, 74 that provide hand grips for lifting the box 60 to remove the box 60 from the body of the organizer. The box 60 may then be set down on an adjacent surface, such as a table, next to the gift wrap organizer or in a convenient location relative to the organizer. Preferably, the box 60 may be used to contain items such as ribbon, adhesive tape, bows, string, and a myriad of other small accessories used for gift wrapping. There may be openings 76, 78 in the lid 66 to facilitate removal of the lid 66 from the box 60.

[0019] Inside the organizer 10 and below the level of the box 60, there may be attached to the back wall 36 a cubby 28 for holding small squares or folds of wrapping paper. The cubby 28 may be of any height that fits inside the organizer body, but is preferably not so deep that small pieces of paper get stuck in the bottom of it. It is preferably of a height of about 4-8 inches. The depth of the cubby 28 should be such that it does not interfere with the insertion or storage of the rolls of wrapping paper in the interior of the organizer, and preferably between 1-2 inches.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 4, another embodiment of the organizer 10′ is shown for clarity without a box or cubby. In this embodiment, instead of using dowels to support tubes of gift wrap paper 42, partitions 80, 82 are provided with aligned apertures 84, 86 therein so that gift wrap paper 42 can be supported within the organizer in essentially the same position as the rolls supported by the dowels of FIGS. 1 and 2. Preferably the apertures are only slightly larger than the outside diameter of a standard roll of wrapping paper, but the apertures can be larger than this. Also, the distance between the partitions, although illustrated as a substantial portion of the length of a roll of wrapping paper, can be more or less than this, the only requirement is that the distance between the partitions be sufficient to support the roll of wrapping paper in a substantially vertical position. If the organizer is to be used in a horizontal orientation, then the distance between the partitions should be sufficient to support the roll of wrapping paper in a substantially horizontal position. Note that the bottom partition 82, illustrated in FIG. 4 as being substantially above the bottom of the organizer 10', could be integral with the bottom of the organizer, or could be replaced by having holes in the bottom surface of the organizer which would secure the rolls of paper from moving.

[0021] While illustrated embodiments of the present invention are rectangular in shape, it should be kept in mind that the shape may be any suitable shape. For example, the shape may be square, round, oval, or “figure 8” shaped.

[0022] It is preferred that the gift wrap organizer be made from a transparent material, in order to allow an easy view of the interior contents. Preferably the material is plastic and relatively rigid. Examples of such material include Plexiglass® or Lucite® which are trademarks of known acrylic polymers. The important point is that the material be transparent and sufficiently rigid to support the container and its contents. It is preferable that the material is able to withstand relatively rough handling, while protecting the contents from damage.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment, all of the sides of the container 20 are generally rectangular. The vertical length of the sides of the container 10 should be sufficient to hold in an upright position rolls of wrapping paper, leaving sufficient room for a box above the rolls. A preferred height of the container 10 is preferably between about 36 and 40 inches. The width of the container 10 is between about 6 and 36 inches, preferably about 12 inches. The depth of the container 10 is between about 6 and 12 inches, preferably about 8 inches.

[0024] In use, rolls of wrapping paper 42 are inserted vertically in the interior of the container 10. The rolls 42 fit over the dowels 20, which hold the rolls in an upright and readily accessible position. Gift wrapping accessories are placed in the box 60, which may be inserted into the top of the container 10 and rests on the tops of the dowels 20. A lid 66 is placed over the box 60, which seals the contents. When the need to wrap gifts arises, the lid 66 is opened and the box 60 removed to expose the rolls of paper 42.

[0025] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be construed in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. 

We claim:
 1. A storage organizer for gift wrapping supplies, comprising: a container having a front, a back, first and second sides extending between said front and back, a bottom, and an open top, said front, back, sides and bottom defining an interior of said container adapted for vertically receiving rolls of wrapping paper; and at least one vertical dowel extending upward from said bottom, said dowel being adapted for receiving a roll of wrapping paper.
 2. The storage organizer of claim 1 , further comprising a lid for covering said container.
 3. The storage organizer of claim 1 , wherein said container comprises a transparent material.
 4. The storage organizer of claim 3 , wherein said material is a plastic.
 5. The storage organizer of claim 3 , wherein said material is an acrylic polymer.
 6. The storage organizer of claim 3 , wherein each of said sides has a slot therein, said slots being adapted to receive a user's hand for picking up and carrying said container.
 7. The storage organizer of claim 3 , further comprising a cubby removably disposed in said interior of said container, said cubby having a bottom and forward and rearward sides and a pair of ends extending between said forward and rearward sides.
 8. The storage organizer of claim 7 , wherein said box comprises hand slots adapted to facilitate removal of said box from said container.
 9. The storage organizer of claim 7 , further comprising cutouts in said sides of said container adapted to allow a user to directly grasp said sides of said box to remove it from said container.
 10. The storage organizer of claim 7 , further comprising a receptacle attached to at least one of said sides in the interior of said container, said receptacle being adapted for receiving sheets of paper.
 11. A storage organizer for gift wrapping supplies, comprising: a container having a front side, a back side, first and second sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and an open top, the sides and bottom defining an interior of said container adapted for vertically receiving rolls of wrapping paper; a bottom guide element located inside said interior of said container, said bottom guide element being essentially parallel to said bottom of said container and located between ¼ inch and 12 inches from said bottom of said container, said bottom guide element supported by said sides of said container; a top guide element located inside said interior of said container, said top guide element being essentially parallel to said bottom guide element and located between ¼ inch and 12 inches from said bottom of said container, said top guide element supported by said sides of said container; and wherein said top and bottom guide elements comprise corresponding apertures adapted for passage of a roll of wrapping paper therebetween, said top and bottom guide elements being adapted to hold said roll of wrapping paper in an essentially vertical position inside said interior of said container.
 12. The storage organizer of claim 11 , further comprising a lid for covering said container.
 13. The storage organizer of claim 11 , wherein said container comprises a transparent material.
 14. The storage organizer of claim 13 , wherein said material is a plastic.
 15. The storage organizer of claim 13 , wherein said material is an acrylic polymer.
 16. The storage organizer of claim 13 , wherein each of said sides has a slot therein, said slots being adapted to receive a user's hand for picking up and carrying said container.
 17. The storage organizer of claim 13 , further comprising a box removably disposed in said interior of said container, said box having a bottom and forward and rearward sides and a pair of ends extending between said forward and rearward sides.
 18. The storage organizer of claim 17 , wherein said box comprises hand slots adapted to facilitate removal of said box from said container.
 19. The storage organizer of claim 17 , further comprising cutouts in said sides of said container adapted to allow a user to directly grasp said sides of said box to remove it from said container.
 20. The storage organizer of claim 17 , further comprising a receptacle attached to at least one of said sides in the interior of said container, said receptacle being adapted for receiving sheets of paper. 